By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee 

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea, in cooperation with the Korea Tourism Organization, hosted the 65th APEC Tourism Working Group (TWG) Meeting from July 28 to 31 at Songdo Convensia, Incheon, as part of the Third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM3) and Related Meetings.

Established in 1991, the APEC TWG has served as a key platform for tourism officials from 21 member economies to share insights, align policies, and foster growth through travel and tourism cooperation.

The 65th TWG Meeting featured the adoption of the APEC Tourism Strategic Plan 2025–2029, setting priorities in digital transformation, human capital development, travel facilitation, and sustainable tourism growth. Around 80 delegates from 18 economies are expected to attend. Officials also reviewed the draft Terms of Reference for 2026–2029, which outline the scope and working arrangements of the Tourism Working Group.

Notable participants included Mr. Choon Hwa Chua, Deputy Secretary General (Tourism) at Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture; Mr. Seksan Ngawsuwan, Assistant Permanent Secretary at Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports; and Mr. Oliver Chong, Assistant Chief Executive (Designate) at the Singapore Tourism Board.

Ahead of the meeting, Korea and the OECD co-hosted a workshop on July 28 titled “AI and Tourism: Boosting Innovation, Enhancing Sustainability in APEC Economies.” The event builds on the outcomes of a joint forum held in Gyeongju earlier this year and focuses on turning policy discussions into actionable strategies.

An official at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism remarked, “As the host of the first APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting, Korea has played a pioneering role in shaping tourism cooperation within the region. As Deputy Lead Shepherd of the Tourism Working Group, we remain committed to driving forward dialogue on sustainable and innovative economic development through tourism.”